StarFox 64 3D features an interesting multiplayer mode that only requires one …

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Nintendo has a reputation of living in the past—a reputation that has been well earned. The company's first-party games are almost always worth playing, but they also trade heavily on nostalgia. StarFox 64 3D may be the second game that I would consider a must-have on the Nintendo 3DS, and like Ocarina of Time, it's a remake of a classic N64 release. I somehow doubt it will be the last.

Still, this isn't a lazy grab for cash. The game's graphics are been updated and upgraded, and it's worth seeing how much work went into the new textures and effects, even if you're familiar with the levels and bosses from earlier versions. StarFox 64 features an impressively varied and well-designed series of locations and battles, and they still feel fresh and contemporary thanks to the work done to update the visuals.

Even the 3D effect is used effectively—your lasers look as if they fly into the screen when you aim at the bad guys, and the tight corridors and obstacles that zoom around the levels look crisp and bright in full 3D. The game benefits greatly from the illusion of depth, and in many cases it even makes the game easier to play. You can also play the game using the gyroscopic controls, tilting the system to move your ship, but this means you have to turn the 3D off, and the motion controls remove precision in favor of gimmickry. I stuck with the standard controls.

StarFox 64 3D

There is a multiplayer mode where you can dogfight your friends, but this is limited to local play—although the ability to play with three of your friends using only one cart is certainly a plus. Online play would have been welcome, but the gimmick of the live video streaming may have made that impossible. Still, an option to turn off the video could have fixed that. That being said, getting upset about Nintendo not caring about online play is beating a very dead horse at this point.

It's also kind of odd that you can stream live video of your face to other players as you fight. They're right there! If I wanted to give someone the finger while playing, I could do so. I supposed this means I can stick my tongue out at my opponents, and they can see it without looking up from the system, but I'm not sure what that accomplishes. Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

When playing against your friends, you see a live-stream from the 3DS' camera

Nintendo

The real focus here is the single-player campaign, and I'm happy to report it's just as good as you remember, complete with branching paths and voice acting that's more Barney than Star Wars. Nintendo may be selling my past back to me, but when the games are this good, I can't get upset.

Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Wow...lmao. I really must be out of the loop with respect to gaming. Is this common practice now?

I literally tea bagged friends IRL during Goldeneye matches back in the 90s. Then Halo came along and made it so any pussy could tea bag after some lucky kill. Kids these days calling themselves "hard core" gamers make me lol.

StarFox 64 3D may be the second game that I would consider a must-have on the Nintendo 3DS, and like Ocarina of Time, it's a remake of a classic N64 release. I somehow doubt it will be the last.

In fairness, I just bought a PSP and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. My current wish list includes Mega Man: Powered Up, Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, and Star Ocean: First Departure.

Oh, and I also got Crisis Core, a prequel to a bestseller from 14 years ago, and I'm thinking I might pick up LittleBigPlanet, a port of a PS3 game. And Dissida 012, a game populated entirely by characters from earlier games. Which is also a modest upgrade to an existing fighting game -- in the tradition of Street Fighter 2!

Which reminds me, I hope my copy of Street Fighter 4 for PC came in the mail today.

Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Wow...lmao. I really must be out of the loop with respect to gaming. Is this common practice now?

I literally tea bagged friends IRL during Goldeneye matches back in the 90s. Then Halo came along and made it so any pussy could tea bag after some lucky kill. Kids these days calling themselves "hard core" gamers make me lol.

How many times can you do this before your playing Goldeneye while tea baggin your friends, as opposed tea baggin your friends while playing Goldeneye?

It was never really about Goldeneye was it? Oh, and love Starfox. Great Classic.

I've stopped buying Nintendo products because they don't feel they need to get their online multiplayer content up to speed. I'm sure I've missed some great games, but I've missed it thoroughly enjoying friends online.

Star Fox needs to be out on the Wii. I am still floored that there is no Wii release for this franchise. I'd rather not see a re-release of an older game like this. Come on, Nintendo! Make a fresh new Star Fox and put it on the Wii!

I just hope this type of thing doesn't turn out to be the only reason to get a 3DS. It'd be like buying a PS3 just so you can play God of War 1/2 or the Tomb Raider/Prince of Persia trilogy. Good games, but not a reason to plunk down several hundred on a new system...

Ben Kuchera wrote:Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Taunting was for pansies. I just raped their mothers in an off the wall, Jim Jeffries moment.

And now for something completely different.

I almost want to revisit SF64, but the lack of online multiplayer kills it for me... this is a game that absolutely should have included it.

Also, I'd be more interested in a remastered release of the original Star Fox, with the previously completed --yet unreleased-- Star Fox 2 included. Honest to God, the hard work has already been done on the game... just publish it already!

I'm not interested in the 3DS at all, but if they're going to remake Star Fox 64 (a series that they've all but given up on) make a Damn new Star Fox game for the Wii damnit! And not an action-adventure-beat-em-up-whatever-the-hell-Star-Fox-Adventures-was. A real true honest to goodness all Arwing Star Fox.

..If you set your avatar video to the rear camera, and hold the system just right while playing, you should be able to frag your friends while showing them your junk in 3D! Not that I would do that, just saying..

StarFox 64 3D features an interesting multiplayer mode that only requires one cart for local play, but the real draw is the updated and improved campaign that takes you through a wondrous series of space battles.

The article itself didn't discuss any changes to the campaign itself, rather the graphics, controls, and 3D. In what way was the campaign updated and improved?

Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Wow...lmao. I really must be out of the loop with respect to gaming. Is this common practice now?

I literally tea bagged friends IRL during Goldeneye matches back in the 90s. Then Halo came along and made it so any pussy could tea bag after some lucky kill. Kids these days calling themselves "hard core" gamers make me lol.

That's weird. Why would you lower your testicles into your friend's mouths after winning a game match? Did you have to hold them down & force their mouths open, or were they willing participants?

StarFox 64 3D features an interesting multiplayer mode that only requires one cart for local play, but the real draw is the updated and improved campaign that takes you through a wondrous series of space battles.

The article itself didn't discuss any changes to the campaign itself, rather the graphics, controls, and 3D. In what way was the campaign updated and improved?

Star Fox needs to be out on the Wii. I am still floored that there is no Wii release for this franchise. I'd rather not see a re-release of an older game like this. Come on, Nintendo! Make a fresh new Star Fox and put it on the Wii!

YES! (Except the GameCube's Starfox abominations surely have tarnished the brand. If I wanted a platformer or a FPS, I'd freaking buy one. WTF.)

Ya know, as a kid growing up with Star Wars, I recall watching the fighter battle sequences and thinking "now THIS would be the ultimate killer video game." The utter dearth of titles (even arcade-y fighter-flight-sims, like the PSOne's G-Police or Xbox's Crimson Skies) in this genre baffles - and saddens - me.

Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Wow...lmao. I really must be out of the loop with respect to gaming. Is this common practice now?

I literally tea bagged friends IRL during Goldeneye matches back in the 90s. Then Halo came along and made it so any pussy could tea bag after some lucky kill. Kids these days calling themselves "hard core" gamers make me lol.

That's weird. Why would you lower your testicles into your friend's mouths after winning a game match? Did you have to hold them down & force their mouths open, or were they willing participants?

Since this is a handheld system, it's hard to taunt your friends using your genitals while playing.

Wow...lmao. I really must be out of the loop with respect to gaming. Is this common practice now?

I literally tea bagged friends IRL during Goldeneye matches back in the 90s. Then Halo came along and made it so any pussy could tea bag after some lucky kill. Kids these days calling themselves "hard core" gamers make me lol.

That's weird. Why would you lower your testicles into your friend's mouths after winning a game match? Did you have to hold them down & force their mouths open, or were they willing participants?

Star Fox needs to be out on the Wii. I am still floored that there is no Wii release for this franchise. I'd rather not see a re-release of an older game like this. Come on, Nintendo! Make a fresh new Star Fox and put it on the Wii!

YES! (Except the GameCube's Starfox abominations surely have tarnished the brand. If I wanted a platformer or a FPS, I'd freaking buy one. WTF.)

Ya know, as a kid growing up with Star Wars, I recall watching the fighter battle sequences and thinking "now THIS would be the ultimate killer video game." The utter dearth of titles (even arcade-y fighter-flight-sims, like the PSOne's G-Police or Xbox's Crimson Skies) in this genre baffles - and saddens - me.

It just doesn't make sense. There's also Colony Wars, the Rogue Squadron games, etc. All these games are popular, have lots of potential, and you don't have to spend tons of polygons on buildings and roads and mountains so you can make it really really pretty.

Star Fox needs to be out on the Wii. I am still floored that there is no Wii release for this franchise. I'd rather not see a re-release of an older game like this. Come on, Nintendo! Make a fresh new Star Fox and put it on the Wii!

YES! (Except the GameCube's Starfox abominations surely have tarnished the brand. If I wanted a platformer or a FPS, I'd freaking buy one. WTF.)

Ya know, as a kid growing up with Star Wars, I recall watching the fighter battle sequences and thinking "now THIS would be the ultimate killer video game." The utter dearth of titles (even arcade-y fighter-flight-sims, like the PSOne's G-Police or Xbox's Crimson Skies) in this genre baffles - and saddens - me.

It just doesn't make sense. There's also Colony Wars, the Rogue Squadron games, etc. All these games are popular, have lots of potential, and you don't have to spend tons of polygons on buildings and roads and mountains so you can make it really really pretty.

Star Fox needs to be out on the Wii. I am still floored that there is no Wii release for this franchise. I'd rather not see a re-release of an older game like this. Come on, Nintendo! Make a fresh new Star Fox and put it on the Wii!

YES! (Except the GameCube's Starfox abominations surely have tarnished the brand. If I wanted a platformer or a FPS, I'd freaking buy one. WTF.)

Oh come on, the platformer one was a darn good game in its own right. And incidentally I think it has one of the better soundtracks out there, alongside the Metroid Prime trilogy's.